The Leopard Gecko, (Eublepharis macularius), is a very common pet and are commercially bred into many color morphs.   Although they are relatively easy to take care of and do not grow large,  many pet owners will lose interest in this nocturnal (active at night) lizard and look to get rid of them long before thier substantial life span of 20 years or more is up.  

This species is very commonly born and bred in captivity and is not endangered in the wild.   SSS Rescue still recommends that they are not kept as pets by the casual owner that is looking for a cute lizard.   Many of these animals will end up in need of rescue at some point in time.   They do make great additions to the specialized collector of lizards or reptiles if you can provide them adequate food, a specialized enviormental enclosure, and have a long term plan of care. 

Several of our Leopard Geckos have been rescued from the general public who purchased them as cute little lizards and then eventually grew out of thier enclosure or lost interest.   All our Geckos are very healthy and are a source of interest among the staff and volunteers as they tend to have distinctive personality traits!